Not only was the cost of living excessively high--I had to pay twelve
dollars a week for a bedroom in Brooklyn, an adjacent suburb, with
"board" of which I did not partake very frequently, through an inherent
dislike to bad cookery--but employment of any description was so
difficult to be obtained that for every vacant situation advertised in
the New York papers there were several hundred applicants, amongst whom
an Englishman stood a very poor chance of being selected when competing
with native citizens.
Do you know, Transatlantica is about the very worst quarter of the globe
for an educated man to go to, who has no scientific attainments, such as
a knowledge of chemistry and engineering--which may occasionally stand
him in good stead.
For skilled artisans, or those brought up to a regular trade, there are
good wages to be had, and constant work; but a "gentleman," or clerk--
unless he intends reversing the whole training of his life, which he
will find an extremely difficult thing to do--had far better go and
break stones on the highways at home, than think to improve his
condition by emigrating to America!
There are some men who can throw off all old associations and the habits
in which they have been bred from boyhood, but, not one in a thousand--
though I have myself seen an Oxford graduate acting as an hotel tout in
Cincinnati and the son of a "Bart, of the British Empire" driving a mud
cart in Chicago!--neither of these, either, had been brought down by
drinking, that general curse of exiled Englishmen in ill-luck.
I had good introductions; and yet, although I met with great hospitality
in being asked out to dinner, I could never get any employment put in my
way.
A dinner is a dinner, certainly, and a very good thing in itself--not to
be sneezed at, either, in the Empire City, let me tell you; for, there,
you can have as neat a repast served, whether in private houses or at
the Great Delmonico's of "Fourteenth Street," as you would meet with at
one or _two_ haunts I wot of in the Palais Royale. Still, I leave it to
yourself, a dinner is but a poor "quid" to him lacking the "quo" of an
immediate fortune--is it not?
Matters began to grow serious with me; for, my income having amounted to
_nil_ since my landing in the new world, my assets were gradually
diminishing. I had only a few pounds left; as my expenditure for
lodging alone was at the rate of over two guineas a week; and Monsieur
Parole d'Honneur's loan, which I looked upon only in the light of
trading capital, I had determined not to touch on for personal need.
What should I do?
I went to one of the American gentlemen to whom I had been introduced,
and laid my position before him. He advised me, as he had previously
advised me, to "look about" me.
I had "looked about me" already for some three months--without anything
coming of it; however, I looked about me now again, and?--met Brown of
Philadelphia!
"Brown of Philadelphia" was one who is known among our "cousins" as a
"live" man. Brown of Philadelphia was an enterprising man; he was more:
he was a benevolent man. He had a splendid scheme, he told me, for
turning over thousands of dollars at once. He had no wish to merely
better himself, however. He was a man with a large heart, and would
make my fortune too. It seemed as if Providence had specially
interfered to prevent his meeting with a partner until I had answered
his advertisement! _I_ should be his partner. I need not know anything
of the business--_he_ would manage all that. What I should have to do,
would be, to take care of all the money that came in--a post for which
both he and I thought I was peculiarly fitted. And the scheme?--
Perhaps you will laugh when I tell you. It was selling blacking!
There is nothing to be ashamed of in it, though. Have not Day and
Martin made a fortune by it, and a name in all the world? Has not many
a proud merchant prince risen to eminence on a more ignoble commodity?
Blacking! There is something noble in causing the feet of posterity to
shine; and to be the means of testing the standing of a would-be
gentleman! Clean boots are an essentiality of society; why should I
shrink from the responsibility of helping to produce them?
Well, whether you consider it a lowering trade or not, Brown of
Philadelphia suggested our "going into" blacking together. He knew of a
place, he said, where he could get it for "next to nothing;" and, as he
then pertinently observed, I must be aware that it might be disposed of
in New York at more than cent, per cent, profit. So, why should we not
embark in it? If we did, Brown of Philadelphia--only he was opposed to
betting, on moral principle--was prepared to wager a trifle that we
would soon have more "greenbacks" than we should know what to do with!
He had an office already, had my benevolent friend,--"located" in a
first-rate part of Broadway. All I should have to do, he explained,
would be to put a small sum into the concern--so as to be independent,
as it were, and not merely accepting "a big thing" at his hands--and, my
fortune was made. If I would contribute, say, five hundred dollars--"a
mere song"--we might go joint shares in what would turn out to be a most
remarkably go-a-head enterprise; yes, sir!
Strange! But, the amount he mentioned was the exact sum, in American
exchange, of my capital--about which, you know, I had previously spoken
to him in a friendly and communicative way. It _was_ odd, my just
having sufficient, wasn't it?--Yet, how lucky, to be sure! And then,
there was no necessity for my being acquainted with the business:--he
would manage that. My duty would be to take in money--exactly what I
liked! That's what took my fancy so amazingly--"tickled" me, as Artemus
Ward would have expressed it--so I repeat it!
Brown of Philadelphia was the soul of honour, as well as distinguished
for his smartness and benevolence. He did not want to impose on _me_,
bless you!
No; on the contrary, he gave me a reference to a large bank "down town,"
and also to a notorious shoddy celebrity who lived "up" town,--to the
former of which I went, making inquiries as to his stability.
Certainly, they knew Mr Brown of Philadelphia. Had a large balance at
present in their hands. As far as they were aware--must be reticent in
commercial matters, you know--perfectly responsible party. Could I have
taken any further precaution? I think not, after this statement.
Quite satisfactory, wasn't it?
I did not go to shoddy character in Fifth Avenue, because it was a
horribly long pull there in the street "cars:"--thought bank reference
sufficient, wouldn't you?
Perfectly satisfactory, I thought; and told Brown of Philadelphia so at
our next meeting, when I lunched with him by appointment.
We next went to see the office--our office--in Broadway, afterwards.
Just the thing--possibly a trifle small; but then we could enlarge in
time, eh? Not the slightest doubt. Brown of Philadelphia and I
excellent friends. He dined with me at an hotel that day--at my expense
on this occasion.
After dinner, arranged business matters as partners should do, drawing
up a deed of associationship, and so on. Brown of Philadelphia produced
roll of dollars in "greenbacks"--his share of the capital of our embryo
firm. I produced roll of "greenbacks"--my share of capital of embryo
firm. Both parcels sealed up; and given into Brown of Philadelphia's
custody, as senior partner, to deposit same in our joint names at a bank
on the morrow.
Brown of Philadelphia and I then parted with words and signs of mutual
respect and admiration; and I hied me to my Brooklyn lodgings in high
delight at the fortunate turn in my affairs.